Travelers decry 70% hike in fare to popular destinations in Nigeria
The outrageous hike in transport fare during the yuletide has always been the reality of travelers who take the holiday to be with their families. Although the precursor to this unending cycle is fuel scarcity, most people have come to expect it every year.
Despite the efforts of the Federal Government to ensure the absence of fuel scarcity this year, travelers have decried the rate of transport fare to various destinations outside Lagos.
Transporters are reported to be hung up on their old habit of increasing fares, and are taking it to extreme proportions even when there is fuel surplus across the country.
A breakdown of ticket prices for buses at major parks in Lagos has shown an increase of 70 percent for people traveling to popular destinations in Nigeria. Travelers boarding at Cele, Maza Maza, Jibowu, Iyana Ipaja, Ikotun, Oshodi, and Ejigbo in Lagos have all shared the same experience.
Buses moving from Lagos to Onitsha are reportedly charging more than N12,000 while those going to Owerri were collecting N12,700. To reach Enugu, one must pay N13,400; Port Harcourt N13,700, and Warri N13,800. Those going to Umuahia will part with N13,200; Uyo was charged N14,500 and Abuja N15,800.
Some travelers called for the regularization of the inter-state transport companies to curb what they called the greed of transporters who take advantage of every opportunity they get to exploit ordinary citizens.
